This squarish canvas, formally a lotus medallion containing the face
of goddess Kali enshrining a ‘ling’ form, obviously the Shiva-ling,
with rest of the canvas-space covered by a lot of inverted and upright
triangles – intricate or otherwise, squares, circles, bands of flowers
and stylised creepers and other design-patterns – mostly geometrical,
represents symbolically the union of Shiva-Shakti and the emergence of
Creation : space – defined and undefined, cosmic sound – from unruly
noises to the ‘ruled’ and systematised sounds, and time – the days and
the nights, as also the ‘chit’ – cosmic Mind, and ‘Prakriti’ – matter.
The painting seems to represent a ‘mukha-ling’, that is, a ‘ling’ with
a ‘mukha’ – face, though unlike the ‘mukha-ling’ iconography in which
both, ‘ling’ and ‘mukha’ belong to Shiva, here in this image only
‘ling’ is Shiva’s, but ‘mukha’ is Kali’s.

The ‘mukha-ling’ iconography suggests merely that Shiva in his
symbolic ‘ling’ form is the same as in his anthropomorphic form. This
form of ‘ling’ with Kali’s face merged with it as just its aspect is
widely different from the ‘mukha-ling’ icon. Except that her face, not
‘yoni’ – her usual form in Shiva-ling icons, has been used to
represent her this representation denotes the union of two : Shiva and
Shakti. As Shiva in his anthropomorphic form and ‘ling’ form is the
same, Kali is also both, phenomenal and epiphenomenal. In one way she
is the Shiva’s power to create and dissolve, in the other, his
companion. During dissolution all forms merge into her and during
creation all forms emerge out of her, and in that case the Darkest
One, Kali, is the formless colourless all-pervading void.

This is broadly the Tantrika vision of the Creation. A Tantrika
considers Creation as the outcome of the union of Shiva and Shakti –
Shiva as ‘ling’ and Shakti as ‘chit’ – cosmic Mind, though while in
the Tantrika way ascendance to ‘chit’ : the apex, is begun with ‘yoni’
which constitutes ‘Muladhara’ – the basis in Tantra-sadhana – Tantrika
practices, this art-piece conceives the goddess as the face where the
Mind or ‘chit’ enshrines, obviously the ultimate of the journey that
take off from ‘yoni’. Whether as ‘chit’ or as ‘yoni’ by her union with
Shiva, who is the cosmic ‘ling’, Shakti overwhelms him with the desire
to create and the two conjointly effect Creation.

A medallion consisting of concentric circles, outer-most being a
broader one comprising lotuses, constitutes the centre of the
painting. The medallion enshrines a form of blue complexioned Kali who
except for her lolling tongue and a necklace of human bones and skull
is in her sublime creative aspect known in Kali’s iconography as her
Bhadrakali form. A round face with pearls-like teeth, eyes hued in
red, not denoting ferocity but amour, radiant face, beautifully laid
hair and well defined features, besides the vermillion mark on
hair-parting, all suggest that possessed with the desire to create she
has completely submitted her to Shiva and her union with him is
absolute.

Now the process of Creation has begun. The first circle, pale yellow,
around her represents formless void. From it radiate two circles
representing light and darkness, and correspondingly, the day and the
night. And, finally, there is the lotus-ring representing three cosmic
zones : the earth, the sky and ocean which lotus singly symbolises. On
the top of the ‘ling’ icon is inscribed the sacred syllable AUM :
condensation of all noises and all sounds. The rest of the space is
covered mainly with inverted and upright triangles, the inverted
symbolising ‘yoni’, and upright, ‘ling’, and their interaction,
coition and creation. Squares, in which form the two triangles
inseparably join, also denote multiplication of Shiva-Shakti union,
and thus the incessancy of the act of creation – a reflection of
Shiva’s desire ‘Ekoham bahushyami’ – I am One but wish to multiply:
the Shaivite doctrine to which Tantrikas show greater adherence.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.

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I finally got my nearly $300 Meenakari earrings today. They were promised in 4-6 days but it took a week for them to be shipped. Then it was 4-6 days. When I saw them I had mixed feelings. They are cute but it took me a half hour to get them in my ears as the posts are really large in diameter. I had to use vaseline and force them through and then the screw on backs (a good thing) wouldn't line up. There seems to be something inside the screw on locks that act as a securing agent. Any way most of the things I've got from ExoticIndia were gifts and acceptable.